Morgan O'Brien's WIGO, College Edition

BCS News
I'm rooting for Florida this weekend, but I hope my man (and fellow Oct. birthday boy) John Parker Wilson does well. I'm trying to emulate his haircut...

In the Big XII, I have ties to Texas (as reported here) and think they're getting kind of screwed. I'd love to see Chase Daniel come up big and lead Mizzou to an upset.

Finally, Ohio State shouldn't be in a BCS bowl. Let Boise State play (at least they know how to win in the BCS)! Heck Boise should at least play Ball State--it's a shame that won't work out.

Awesome West Point stunt:


Go Army,Beat Navy

UNC Hates Jeeeeezuuz

As a Yankee down South, I quickly realized that my fervent Catholicism stood no match for the rapid Christianity wrought by residents of the Bible Belt. And for that, I can't imagine this new policy will last long:

UNC libraries to forgo Christmas trees
Chapel Hill library chief says staffers complained about the display.
By Eric Ferreri
Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.

CHAPEL HILL For as long as anyone can remember, Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments have greeted holiday season visitors to UNC Chapel Hill's two main libraries.

Not this year.

The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas of Wilson and Davis libraries each December, were kept in storage this year at the behest of Sarah Michalak, the associate provost for university libraries.
more

That said, Christmas trees are not religious symbols--at least not Christian religious symbols--and it should be noted that Christmas is both a state and federal holiday.

Carolina's new chancellor and fellow Maui Invitational attendee Holden Thorpe chimed in, although not very convincingly:

I understand that the Library staff made the decision not to put up a Christmas tree this year after giving it a lot of thought. The university administration doesn’t get involved in decisions like that. Departments can choose to put up a tree or not. And if you take a walk across campus, I think you’ll see that. The façade of Memorial Hall, our major performing venue, is fully decorated for the holiday, and The Nutcracker is its major December attraction. Student Stores is like any retailer this time of year. They have a tree decorated with Carolina ornaments in the window and, in the store, there is a mantle decorated with Carolina stockings. The Student Activities Fund Office has a Christmas tree in its window. There’s a big Christmas wreath with a Carolina-blue ribbon on it in the Student Union. Our own Carolina Inn is again featuring its Twelve Days of Christmas displays throughout the hotel. And just as we have for the last 59 years, our Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is featuring The Star of Bethlehem.

So Christmas is recognized on this campus.

Thanks for your interest in Carolina, and have a joyous Christmas season.

Holden Thorp

Notes from the Aloha State

Making a splash on the islands
While we didn't file last week, we were in no shortage of interesting topics generating from paradise. For instance. I read the following article in USA Today, and have to admit that Mrs. Morganobrien and I did some searching for Punahou High School while we were in Oahu:


Barry in his Punahou days

Hawaii's latest lure: Obama tourism?

By Herbert A. Sample, Associated Press Writer
HONOLULU — It happened to Plains, when Jimmy Carter became president and a tiny hamlet in western Georgia became famous as the hometown of a certain peanut farmer.
It happened to Crawford, Texas, when George Bush took the White House and the town closest to his getaway central Texas ranch blossomed with tourists and the businesses that catered to them.

But Honolulu, which already lures millions of tourists each year, is only beginning to see development of tourism tied to Barack Obama, the Hawaii native son who becomes the 44th president of the United States in January.

And I have to admit, I'm pissed I didn't make this flight and I'm now convinced that there's nothing Tyler is incapable of:


When a hero comes along, have the strength to carry on

Hansbrough, Thompson aid ill passenger on flight
The Associated Press
Published: December 1, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.: North Carolina forward Deon Thompson won't soon forget the top-ranked Tar Heels' flight home from the Maui Invitational.

Thompson, reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough and team video coordinator Eric Hoots helped carry an unconscious passenger to the airplane's galley where paramedics treated him before the flight home on Thanksgiving Day. Thompson, a 6-foot-8 junior, called it a scary moment.

After last week, I can now proudly announce that I've visited all fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. And I'm not even thirty although it is creeping up.

Unfortunately, I've yet to get a hit from Wyoming, the lone holdout as I strive to get hits from all fifty states. Do I have to write about FE Warren to make it happen? Dick Cheney? Yellowstone? What gives?

Regardless, God Bless America.

The Commander in Chief

God Bless America, home of the American Dream!

Decisions, Decisions

Finalizing plans to head to Lahaina for the Maui Invitational.  Unfortunately, after perusing the brackets, the first round has me ankle deep in conflict city:

Click for High Res
On the first day of action, I've got the mighty Tar Heels facing the Fightin' Marianists of Chaminade, battling in the war of my alma maters (kind of).  Later that same day, the schools of my two roommates, Officer Andrew "Cochise" O'Brien and Mrs. Morganobrien.com, square off when Notre Dame (featuring a redshirting Ben Hansbrough, Tyler's bro) and Indiana tussel.

Lord knows what types of matchups will happen in the finals and consies.  Should be a good time, I just hope I don't run into my ex, Sarah Marshall, while I'm there.

NOTES: I bet IU and ND were excited they flew to Hawaii to play one another.  That said, it was probably easier to fly to Hawaii than drive from Bloomington to South Bend, considering the always-under-construction connection of unpaved roads and tractor paths that connect the North to the South in the Hoosier State.